We don't support Gau Rakshak violence, Centre tells SC (Lead)

New Delhi, July 21 (IANS) The Central government on Friday told the Supreme Court that it does not support the violence unleashed by vigilante groups in the name of cow protection.

Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told a bench of Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice Mohan M. Shantanagoudar: “We don’t support the violence in the name of Gau Raksha.”

But the central government sought to wash off its hands in the matter and shifted the burden on the states, telling the court that law and order was a state subject.

A number of states have been made respondents in the matter but have not filed their response. So the court adjourned the matter, giving them four weeks to do so.

The apex court was hearing a PIL by Pune-based entrepreneur and social activist Tehseen S. Poonawala seeking action against self-appointed Gau Rakshaks resorting to violence and killing people in the name of cow protection.

The top court had on April 7 had sought response from Karnataka, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on the plea seeking to curb self-appointed cow vigilante groups indulging in violence but not all of them have filed their responses.

Poonawalla had moved the top court seeking ban on the “Gau Rakshak Dals” and directions to the Central and state governments to take action against their activities and “atrocities against dalits and minorities” in the name of cow protection.